Apparatus for heating liquids with fluid fuel



June 15, 1937.

w. J. HANDLEY 2,084,281

A PPARATUS FOR-HEATING LIQUIDS WITH FLUID FUEL Filed Aug. 29, 1955- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Um FLIIFIIII! INVENTOR. I W/zL/mw J HQNDLEY ATTORNEYS June 15 1937. v w. .1. HANDLEY APPARATUS FOR HEATING LIQUIDS WITH FLUID FUEL Filed Aug.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented June 15,. 1937 PATENT. OFFICE 2,084,287 srraaarns roa naarmc mourns wn'n FLUID William J. Handley, Jackson, Mich, r to Handlcy Brown Heater Company, Jacksom. Mich a corporation of Michigan Application august 29; 1935, Serial No. saiis 15 Claims. (c|. 122-14) This 'inventionrel'ates to a method of and apparatus .for heating liquids with fluid fuel, and

. has to do particularly with an extremely simple, I inexpensive heater unit and the manner of trans- 5 ferring heat units to' liquid to be heated wh reby high efliciency-and low gas consumption obtained while at the same time eliminating condensat'ion. In the past, condensation has been generally 10 looked at as-a necessary evil and in attempts to obtain efficient heatingand low gas consumption mostefl'orts have been directed towards special designs of the liquid tank usually in connection Y I with the application of heat internally of the "15 mass of liquid to be heated; most of such structures have been very, expensive. particularly as compared to the standard range boiler type of hot' water heater. Some attempts have been made towards inexpensiveconstruction in that auxiliary attachments have been provided -for standard range type boilers, but this has been usually with a sacrifice of efficiency and continued troubles with condensation. It is my belief that these efforts in the past have tackled liquid heating problems from the wronganglein that they: have, worked for increased efilciency by specially designed heating,

tanks and the like. The present .invention con- -dboilerf It starts with the most inexpensive form and at the sametime the most sturdy form of storage tank for the liquid to be heated, and an important-feature of the present invention is that while such a simple inexpensive form of as storage tank is used. I obtain an eihcieneycomparable to that of the most complicated and expensive type of heater. -A second, and possibly more important feature of the present invention is that efhcient heating is obtained with inex- 40 pensive equipment and the heat transfer carried out in such a manner that condensation is completelyeliminated.

' More specifically, I have foimd that if heating gases are applied on the outside of a'storage tank '45. and substantially all the heat units from such "gases applied indirectly instead of directly to such tank, I obtain the utmost efillciency from heating gases and without creating. condensation. In fluid fuel heaters of the prior art, ,----eondehtatioh has been oneof the most difilcult problems for the reason that heat, when directly applied to the cold surface. deposits moisture whichobstructs and corrodes the exposedparts: moisture absorbs elements from the .mplates the use of. a simple cylindrical range flue gases, thus greatly increasing its corrosive quality.

In carrying out my invention I preferably utilize a low consumption burner and a relatively large storage tank, the heat transfer-unit con- 5 sists of vertical fiues, spaced from the surfaceof the tank and enclosed within an insulating casing strapped on to the cylindrical tank in such a manner as to form an absorption chamber around the fiues. Decrease in transfer of heat units by 10 indirectheating instead of direct heating is compensated for by a reflecting surface forming a 4 part of said absorption chamber and 'by forming the outer surface of the flues and 'eflective surface of the tank of roughened black surfaces. Other 15 features include structural details and other arstrap on the tank. 25

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the strap on assembly and range boiler.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.- 3 illustrating the relative spacing of the boilencombustion chamber, flue tubes, reflecting surface and'insulation, and illustrating particularly the formation of. the sealed absorption chamber.

1'18. 5 is a sgttional view taken on line 55 of 4 showing the manner of securing the strap on assembly to the water tank and the internal arrangement of the burner and combustion Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the strap on assembly support secured to the bottom of the-tank.

A feature of the present invention is the fact that one of the important elements thereof is a standard domestic range or stand boiler as shown at 2. This boiler is not only important in that it embodies strength and cheapness but also in that it presents an ideal surface for my indirect noncondensation type of heating, as will be presently described. In'carrying out this method of assembly. Painting of the tank and the clamping sists of a sheet of insulation 1 split as at8. It a may be molded to the general shape shown in Fig. 4 or may be held in such general shape by clamping straps. The outer surface of the insulation may be ornamental in appearance and the insulation heldas a jacket around the tank 2 by a sheet metal shell held together at the split by suitable fastening means. v

.Preferably secured to and forming a part of the interior surface of the insulating jacket is a mirror unit H, formed of polished metal and preferably consisting of a front flat surface I2- .and two angularlyextending wing members i3. When the insulating jacket is strapped into place, the wing membersiS are substantially normal to and contact withthe arcuate'surface of the boiler so as to form an absorption chamber which may be'designated' I4. I

.Also secured to the mirror'or reflecting member II, by means of abolt i5, is a combustion chamber l6, this combustion chamberbei'ng directly supported by the ledgeli of the support member 4,, thus, while the sheet metal 'shellor strap members! would probably hold theinsulating jacket and the strap on heating unit as a whole in place, the main function of the shell or strap members is to hold the insulation as a jacket around the boiler and form the absorption chamber I I, and the entire/strap onunit is mainly supported by the support member 4; although it will be seen that if the support member should become loose the entire strap on unit would still be heldin place. A layer I! of high temperature asbestosis positioned behind the reflector member ll. As will be later explained, the reflector is the medium for effecting a great-amount of heat transfer, thus additional insulation is provided for backing the reflector as well as the absorption chamber H as a whole.

A burner box I8 is carried by the combustion chamber 16, and preferably contains a low consumption burner unit l9. A standard thermostat (not shown) may be used to control the flow of gas to the burner uni't l9, so'that the flame issuing from the burner and into the combustion chamber may be relatively low or a pilot flame, once the tank of water reaches a predetermined temperature, or may be 'in wide open full position, but still low consumption.

Flue tubes "extend from the top of the com-,

bustion chamber, vertically through the absorption chamber H, and out through the top, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Top and bottom plate members 2| preferably seal the heating chamber at-the top and bottom, respectively, so that the heating chamber ll is substantially a dead air space. After strapping on the unit. any cracks or openings between the plates may be sealed. The outside surface of the tubes 20 are roughened and black. Thus the roughened dark surfaces of the flue tubes lose 'or' transfer heat faster by radiation while the blacklsurface of the tank absorbs heat faster than a relativ y light smooth surface. I I I It will thus beseen that I'have provided .a strap on heating unit, for new orold range jboil- 'ers of such construction that products of com is a dead air space, it willbe seen'that condensation from any source will be prevented.

Eiflcient heating of the water in the tank 2 will first of all depend upon the quantity of water and the rapidity of heating desired, one or a plurality of tubes 20 may be used but in every case all the products of combustion are conductedaway from the combustion chamber I6 by. such fines and will more than compensate for the indirect heating by the combination of the reflector surface and the blackened surfaces on the tubes and the portion of the tank utilized to form one wall of. the absorption chamber. Heat transfer from the tubes. to the tank will be by radiation, reflection and convection, greatly. assisted by the black surface of the flues and the tank, and a portion'of the heat reflected back against the black surface of the tank by the reflector l l. The size and number of tubes 20 are proportioned relative to the low consumption burner unit and the rapidity of heating so that practically all the heat units from the products ,of combustion are absorbed by the tank in the travel of such products of combustion from the bottom to the top of the flues.

Although the absorption chamber II is a dead air space, circulation of air will take place because of the natural thermo-siphon action; furthermore, the greatest transfer of heat units between the absorption chamber and the tank will take place at the localized point where there is the greatest differential in temperature. Thus if, for instance, sufficient hot water should be used to set up a band of cold water at the bottom of the tank, it will be seen that the greatest transfer of heat units between the absorption chamber i4 and the tank will be at such band of cold water; or if all the water in the I tank is substantially the same temperature, the transfer of heat units will be evenly distributed between the absorption chamber and the surface of the tank.

As an illustration of the importance of the blackened surfaces of the tank, the tubes, and the reflector surface, complete tests made on the same tank and the same strap on heating unit, one with the blackened surfaces of the tank, the blackenedsurfaces of the tubes and a reflector surface, and the other without these blackened also that the strap on unit is particularly important for strapping on to and converting old boilers into eflicient heating units.

.What I claim is: I

1. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic range boilers, comprising an insulating means surrounding at least apart of the boiler, a portion of the insulating means being spaced from the boiler to form an absorption chamber,

fluid fuel combustion means positioned adiacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, .one or more flues conducting the products of combustion from said combustion means up. through said absorption chamber, saidflue or flues being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect.

2. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic range boilers, comprising. an insulating means surrounding at least a part of the boiler, means extending along an outer wall of and being spaced from the boiler to form an absorption chamber, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, one or more flues conducting the products of combustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said flue or 'flues being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect, the top and bottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby to form asubstantial dead-air space around said flues.

3. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic range boilers, comprising an insulating means surrounding at least a part of the boiler, means extending along-an outer wall of and being spaced from the boiler to form an absorption chamber, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, one or more flues conducting the products of combustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said flue or flues being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect, the top and bottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby to form a substantial dead air space around said fiues, a portion of the wall of said absorption chamber consisting of a reflecting surface.

4. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic range boilers, comprising an insulating means surrounding at least apart of the boiler, a portion of the insulating means being spaced from the boiler to form an. absorption chamber, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, oneor more conduits conducting the, products of come 'bustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said conduit or conduits being spaced from the. tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect, the top and bottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby to form a substantial dead air space around said conduits, the surfaces of said conduit or conduits and the adjacent surface of said tank being blackened to assist in the radiabustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said conduit or conduits being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect, the top andbottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby 'to form a substantial dead air space around said conduits, a portion of the wall of said absorption, chamber consisting. of a reflecting surface, the surfaces of said conduit or conduits and the adjacent surface of said tank being blackmod to assist in' the radiation and absorption of heat units.

6. Conversion water heating apparatusfor domestic stand boilers comprising an insulating means surrounding at least a part of theboiler. means extending along an outer wall of and being spaced from the boiler to form an absorption chamber, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, one or more conduits conducting the products of combustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said conduit or conduits being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source of heat and the tank is indirect, the top and bottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby to form a substantial dead air space around said conduits, a por tion of the wall of said absorption chamber consisting of a reflecting surface, the surface of said tank adjacent said conduits being blackened.

7. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic sand boilers, comprising an insulating means surrounding at least a part of the boiler,

means extending along an outer wall of and being spaced from the boiler to form an absorption chamber, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom of said absorption chamber, one or more conduits conducting the products of combustion from said combustion means up through said absorption chamber, said conduit or conduits being spaced from the tank whereby the application of heat between the source oi heat and the tank is indirect, the top and bottom of said absorption chamber being substantially sealed whereby to form a substantial dead air space around said conduits, a portion of the wall of said absorption chamber consisting of a refleeting surface, the surface of said conduit or conduits being rough and black to assist in the radiation of heat units therefrom.

8. A water heating apparatus of the storage, continuous supply type, comprising a storage tank and a heating unit comprising one'or more conduits spaced from the tank and enclosing and conducting heating gases along the outside of said tank whereby the transfer of heat units from the heating gases to the tank is indirect, means for directing heat units radiated from said conducting means in a direction other than towards the tank back against the tank, said last named means cooperating with a portion of said tank to form an absorption chamber enclosing said conduit or conduits, and an insulating jacket surrounding said absorption chamber and clamped around said tank.

9. A water heating apparatus of the storage,

continuous supply type, comprising a storage tank and a heating unit comprising one or more conduits spaced from the tank and enclosing and conducting heating gases along the outside of said tank whereby the transfer of heat units from the heating gases to the tank is indirect, means for directing heat units radiated from said conducting means in a direction other than towards the tank back against the tank, said last named means cooperating with a portion of said tank to form an absorption chamber enclosing said conduit or conduits, said absorption chamber being substantially sealed from the atmosphere to form a dead air space wherebytransfer of heat 75 units from the absorption chamber to the tank will take place at a point or points of greatest temperature differential between the tank and the absorption chamber, and an insulating jacket surrounding said absorption chamber and clamped around said tank.

container is indirect, means surrounding said ply of water, a smallconsumption burner and a conduit or conduits and provided with a reflector surface for redirecting heat units radiated from said conduit or conduits back against the surface of the tank.

11. A water heating apparatus comprising a container designed to-hold a relatively large supcombustion chamber therefor positioned adjacent a wall of the container, one or more conduits forming a continuation of said combustion chamber and extending alongside of but spaced from .the wall of said container whereby the transfer of heat units from the conduit or conduits to the container is indirect, means surrounding said conduit or conduits and provided with a reflector surface for redirecting heat units radiated from said conduit or conduits back against the surface of-the tank, means clamped to the bottom of the tank and supporting'said'combustion chamber.

and conduit or conduits, and insulating means enclosing said conduit or conduits and the tank.

12. Conversion water heating apparatus for domestic storage tanks, comprising insulating means surrounding at least a part of the tank, one or more conduits extending along side of but spaced from an-outer wall of said tank metallic duits,the transfer of heat units from the conduit enclosing meanssurrounding said conduit or con-.- duits and forming an absorption chamber, and fluid fuel combustionmeans positioned adjacent the bottom of the absorptionchamber and so positioned'that the products of combustion are conducted upwardly through said conduit or conor conduits to the tank being indirect.

i3. Conversiorr water heating apparatus for domestic storage tanks, comprising insulating means surrounding at least a part of the tank, oneor more conduits extending along side of but spaced from an outer wall of said tank, metallic enclosing means surrounding said conduit or conduits and having the ends thereof contacting with the tank and forming an absorption chamber, and fluid fuel combustion means positioned ad jacent the bottom of the absorption chamber and so positioned that the products of combustion are conducted upwardly through said conduit or conduits, the transfer of heat units from the conduit or conduits to thetank being indirect. 14. A water heating apparatus of the storage continuous supply type, comprising a storage tank adapted to contain waterand a heating unit positioned along a wall of said tank, fluid fuel combustion means positioned adjacent the bottom ofsaid heating unit, one or more conduits positioned within said heating unit and spaced away from the wall of the tank, the fluid fuel combustion means being so located that the products of combustion thereof are conducted upwardly inside of said conduit or conduits whereby the transfer of heat units from the heating means to the tank is indirect, said heating unit cooperating with a wall of the tank to form an absorption chamber, said absorption chamber being substantially sealed from the atmosphere to form a dead air space whereby transfer of heat units from the absorption chamber to the tank will take place at a point or points of greatest temperature differential between the tank and the absorption chamber.

15. A strap-on heating unit for water storage tanks and the like comprising, one or more conduits adapted to be positioned adjacent an outer wall of the tank, fluid fuel combustion means so positioned adjacent the bottom of said conduit or conduits that the products of combustion-are conducted upwardly inside of said conduit or conduits whereby the transfer of heat units to the water in the tank is indirect, a metal enclosing member for said conduit orconduits having side portions adapted to contact with the walls of the tank whereby to form a chamber around, said conduit or conduits, and an insulated cover member adapted to be strapped around said metallic enclosing member and the water tank. 

